Babymonster One Shot

Stolen Glances (3) | RUPHA

Sullyoon had known from the start that something was simmering beneath Pharita’s calm exterior, and it piqued her curiosity. The subtle way Pharita’s gaze followed Ruka all night, the way her body stiffened whenever Sullyoon touched Ruka—it was too telling to ignore. So, Sullyoon decided to push things further, just to see how far Pharita would go.

Every move Sullyoon made—every touch on Ruka’s arm or thigh, every lingering glance—was intentional. She wasn’t just being her usual playful self; she was provoking Pharita. When Pharita slipped out of the room after Ruka headed to the bathroom, Sullyoon’s suspicions were confirmed. Pharita couldn’t take it anymore, and that was exactly what Sullyoon had hoped for.

When Ruka and Pharita returned to the living room, the air between them was different, thick with something unspoken. Sullyoon didn’t miss the way Pharita’s eyes narrowed, focused on Ruka as they re-entered the room. Sullyoon smirked to herself—this was going to be interesting.

With a casual tone, Sullyoon patted the seat next to her again. “Ruka, can you come outside with me for a second? I want to talk to you privately.” Her voice was light, but the request was anything but innocent. She caught the flash of possessiveness in Pharita’s eyes, a silent warning that spoke volumes.

Ruka hesitated but eventually nodded, standing up. Sullyoon shot a quick glance at Pharita, her lips curling into a knowing smile before leading Ruka outside, shutting the door behind them.

Once alone, Sullyoon didn’t waste time. She leaned against the railing, arms crossed, and faced Ruka. “So,” she began, her gaze sharp, “what happened in the bathroom?”

Ruka stiffened, her expression faltering. “What do you mean?” she asked, though her voice lacked conviction.

Sullyoon let out a soft laugh. “Don’t play dumb with me, Ruka. I’m not blind, and I’m definitely not stupid. Pharita went after you, and when you came back, something had clearly changed.” She raised an eyebrow, waiting for Ruka’s response.

Ruka shifted uncomfortably, running a hand through her hair. “Nothing happened, Sullyoon. It’s complicated.”

“Complicated?” Sullyoon echoed, her tone teasing but her eyes serious. She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “She kissed you, didn’t she?”

Ruka’s eyes widened, and that was all the confirmation Sullyoon needed. She smiled, shaking her head slightly. “I knew it. I could feel the tension between you two the moment I walked into the room. Pharita’s been watching you all night like she’s ready to jump out of her skin. So, tell me, what are you going to do now?”

Ruka sighed, leaning against the wall. “I don’t know, Sullyoon. She’s with Niki, and this whole thing is just... messy.”

Sullyoon watched her for a moment, then placed a gentle hand on Ruka’s shoulder. “Look, I’m your best friend, and I’m not going to pretend I didn’t do all of this on purpose tonight. I wanted to see how Pharita would react. And guess what? She’s clearly into you, Ruka. She can’t stand seeing anyone else touch you.” Sullyoon’s voice softened, but her words remained blunt.

Ruka blinked, surprised by the confession. “Wait... you did this on purpose?”

Sullyoon shrugged, a playful smile dancing on her lips. “I wanted to see if I was right about her. And I was. So now it’s up to you. Are you going to ignore it, or are you going to figure out what you really want?”

Ruka stood there, speechless, as Sullyoon’s words sunk in. She couldn’t deny the truth anymore—not after tonight. Everything with Pharita had shifted, and now she had to decide what to do.

Satisfied with the progress she had sparked, Sullyoon patted Ruka on the back. “Good luck,” she said with a wink.

---

Meanwhile, after Sullyoon and Ruka stepped outside, Pharita tried to focus on the movie, but her mind was miles away. Her eyes, though seemingly fixed on the screen, kept darting toward the door. Niki, sitting beside her, remained oblivious to the silent war brewing inside Pharita. He reached out to hold her hand, squeezing it softly, but she barely responded. Her fingers were limp, and her jaw tight.

Niki sensed something was off. He glanced at Pharita, then at the door where Ruka and Sullyoon had disappeared. His brow furrowed slightly. “Everything okay?”

Pharita forced a smile, nodding weakly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired, I guess.”

Niki raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “You’ve been distracted all night,” he said softly. “Is it... something I did?”

Pharita shook her head quickly, guilt flashing across her face. “No. It’s not you. I’ve just... got a lot on my mind.” She glanced at the door again, then quickly looked away. “I’ll be fine.”

But Niki knew better. He had been with Pharita long enough to recognize when she was holding something back. He leaned closer, his voice gentle. “Is it Ruka?”

Pharita’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Ruka’s name, but she quickly masked her reaction. “Why would it be Ruka?” she asked, a bit too defensively.

Niki studied her face, his expression softening. “I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but... if there’s something you need to tell me, I’d prefer you to be honest.”

Pharita’s breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she considered telling him everything—the kiss in the bathroom, the feelings she had been suppressing. But as she looked into Niki’s sincere eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Instead, she forced another smile. “You’re overthinking it,” she said softly.

Niki nodded slowly, though the doubt lingered in his gaze. He didn’t press her further, but the weight of unspoken words hung between them. Pharita could feel it—Niki’s quiet disappointment, her own turmoil, and the tension with Ruka. She shifted uncomfortably, pulling her hand away from his and crossing her arms over her chest.

Just as the silence grew unbearable, the door opened. Sullyoon and Ruka walked back in, and Pharita’s eyes immediately darted to Ruka, scanning her face for any hint of what had happened outside. Ruka looked unsettled, her expression guarded. She avoided Pharita’s gaze and sat next to Sullyoon.

Sullyoon, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease. She threw a playful glance at Pharita, a knowing smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, before turning her attention back to the room.

“So, what did I miss?” Sullyoon asked, her tone light and teasing.

Pharita didn’t respond. She was too focused on Ruka, who pretended to be engrossed in the movie. The weight of what had happened in the bathroom and the tension that now lingered in the air was suffocating. Sullyoon’s stunt had stirred up feelings Pharita had worked hard to suppress, and she didn’t know how to handle it.

Niki, sensing the awkward energy, cleared his throat and tried to diffuse the tension. “Uh, we’re almost at the end of the movie. You didn’t miss much.”

Sullyoon chuckled, but Pharita wasn’t listening. Her mind raced. What had Sullyoon said to Ruka outside? Did Ruka tell her about the kiss? And why did Ruka look so distant now?

Suddenly, Pharita couldn’t take it anymore. She stood abruptly, drawing everyone's attention. “I need some air,” she muttered, her voice tight. Without waiting for a response, she headed for the door, her heart pounding.

Niki watched her go, confusion and concern on his face. “Babe?” he called after her, but she didn’t stop.

Ruka’s eyes flicked toward the door as Pharita left, guilt and frustration gnawing at her. She knew she couldn’t avoid this any longer. Sullyoon’s meddling had brought everything to the surface, and now she had no choice but to confront it.

Sullyoon leaned back on the couch, watching the door close behind Pharita with a satisfied smile. She had done what she set out to do—stir the pot. Now it was up to Ruka and Pharita to figure out the rest.